Apparatus for flame cultivation of



Jan. 28, 1947.

P. c. M LE'MoRE ETAL APPARATUS FOR FLAME CULTIVATION OF PLANT Original Filed Jan-.19, 1945 mm. a, BY l/ala'emarffnmim 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 28, 1947. P. c. McLEMORE ETAL 22,836

APPARATUS FOR FLAME CULTIVATION OF PLANTS Original Filed Jan. 9, I943 25 Sheets- Sheet ,2

' mvszvrons. Pn'caC/zr h clemore,

3y 1/ v I Jan. 28, 1947.

Original Filed Jan. 9, 1943 P. c. M LEMORE ETAL APPARATUS FOR FLAME CULTIVATION OF PLANTS 3 sheets sheet 3 LNVENTDRS.

J ries Cfzrenleg'gb/Vakno ma 28. 1941 v Re. 22,836

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FLAME CULTIVATION F PLANTS Price Chrenleigh McLemore, Waugh, Ala., and

Valdemar Knudsen, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, said Knudsen assignor, by mesne assignments, to Flame Cultivation, Incorporated, a corporation of Maryland Original No. 2,391,027, dated December 18, 1945, Serial No. 471,858, January 9, 1943. Application for reissue May 15, 1946, Serial No. 669,742

20 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to apparatus for practicing flame cultivation of plants, and embodies improvements upon the apparatus disclosed in the following prior applications of Price C.

, 2 improved power lift mechanism operative to raise the skids and their burner units to elevated Doe sition clear of the ground, in order to facilitate turning the tractor around at the ends of the McLemore, one of the present joint applicants: 5 plant rows, or to enable the tractor to be backed Serial No. 298,870, filed Oct. 11, l939,-issued as more readily? Patent No. 2,327,204 on August 17, 1943; Serial Other features,- objects and advantages of the No. 364,140 filed Nov. 4, 1940; Serial No. 442,206, invention will appear from the following detail. filed May 8, 1942. i description of different preferred embodiments of The method disclosed in the above applications the invention. In the accompanying drawings utilizes the principle of subjecting the crop plants illustrating such preferred embodiments: l and the parasitic weeds and grasses indiscrimi- Figure l is a side elevational view of one emnately to a flame of substantially predetermined bodiment of our improved flame cultivating apintensity, which flame acts upon the crop plants, paratus, wherei t B gr und engaging Skids d weeds and grasses for a substantially predetertheir burners are connected to the rear of a. farm mined time interval, generally of rather short tractor; duration, whereby to destroy or retard the para- Figure 2 is a rear elevational view on a'larger sitic weeds and grasses without causingappre- Scale of the apparatus of Figure 1 illustrating oiable or substantial injury to the crop plants. application of the apparatus in the cultivation of The time interval over which the crop plants, young crop p a 1' weeds and grasses are subjected to the flame, g re 3 is a rear elevational fragmenta y V ew and the intensity of the flame, are so proporof the apparatus of'Figure 1 illustratingapplitioned with respect to the type of crop plant, its cation of the, apparatus for cultivating relatively maturity, the type and maturity of the weedsand ma cr p p n the upp r foliage f w i h grasses, etc., that a relatively brief flaming kills have bridged across and closed out the central or materially retards the growth of the weeds space between spaced rows of the plants; and and grasses, but without causing substantial in- Figures 4 and 5 are "enlar ed det l S ct na jury to the crop plant. The operation is prefviews showing the adjustable mounting clamps erably performed by mounting hydrocarbon burnwhich mount the burners on the skids. ers on a tractor, and propelling the tractor along 39 Referring now to the improved form of appathe plant rows at a substantially constant pro ratus shown in the drawings, the preferred form' selected speed with the hydrocarbon burners prefof vehicle for propelling the burners along the erably arranged to project their flames down plant rows consists of a farm tractor 2| of any around the bases to the crop plants. conventional construction, although it will be un- One of the objects of the present inventi is derstood that other cultivating vehicles might be to provide an improved mounting for the hydroemployed, either self-propelled or animal drawn. carbon burners in such relation to the tractor The tractor 2| is shown as comprising large drivthat the burners are capable of risin and falling ing wheels 22 at the rear, and 'small steerin relatively to the tractor in traveling over uneven wheels 23 at the front. The front steering wheels ground along the plant rows. This improved 40 23 are controllable through the conventional mounting comprises a separate supporting skid steering contro1 wheel 24 disposed adjacent to for each burner or for each adjacent pair of the drivers seat 25. The vehicle is shown in conburners, each supporting skid being capable of junction with two spaced rows of crops R, R, independently rising and falling so as to accurate- Such as sugar cane, cotton, corn, leg e DOt-a- 1y follow the contour of the ground immediately toes, tomatoes, ramie. beets; pp e d t e adjacent the plant row bein flamed. This inlike. In the tractor shown the tread spacing besures that the burner flame will always be protween the front wheels 23 and the tread spacing Jected in a substantially fixed relation with re ween the rear wheels -22 s sufiici n for sp nspect to the base portion, of the plants in the .nlng the two plant rows. Alternatively, if decrop rows, neither too high where the flame might sired, a tractor of the character described but injure upper foliage, nor too low where the flame having its front wheels positionedto run in the would not be able to operate effectively on weeds center of space 0 between the plant rows R and and grasses immediately surrounding the base R may be employed. The front and rear wheels portions of the crop plants. are adapted to tread middles M between adjacent Another object of the invention is to provide rows of crops R, R.

. .3. The power plant 21 and any conventional clutch and selective speed ton are mounted in conventional relation .on the tractor frame 20, for transmitting a selective speed drive to the rear wheels 22. The selective speed transmission affords a range of three or four selective speeds, in thegeneral range of approximately one half mile per hour to four or five miles per hour.

In the preferred form of our invention the tractor is provided with an automatic speed governor ,which can beset to maintain any desired engine speed. corresponding to a selected tractor speed,

SI' are adapted to flame the plant row R. In the cultivation of plants which in 'the more mature stages of growth have their upper branches, foliage or the like spanning and closing the central a space between plant rows R and R, the use of the centrally disposed burners 32- 32 is discon tinued, and all flaming of the plant rows is then 1 1 performed by the two lateral burners 31-33. In

this connection, as previously described, the front steering wheels 23 and the rear driving wheels-22 of the tractor are spaced apart sumciently to travel along outwardly of the crop rows R and R. A conventional four wheeled tractor havin laterally adjustable front wheels is capable, of

meeting the above requirement necessary for the cultivation of the two plant rows of crops. If desired, special tractors or special implements may be provided capable of spanning two or more beds of rows R, R, and carrying the required number of burners for flaming the plant rows of these beds.

The central burners 32-32 are preferably supported on a single central skid 3|, although two central skids might be employed. one for each burner. The two lateral burners 82-33 are supported on lateral skids 35-35. These skids are adapted tov ride, on the ground adjacent the croprows. While a central skid 34 is the preferred form of support for the central burners 4 verse position of the 'stirrup'bracket to any desired point across the width of the tractor. It

, will also be noted that by loosening the nuts l8 the stirrup bracket can be'slid upwardly or downwardly to any desired point ofvertioal adjustment within the U-bolts ll and 42, I

In the preferred arrangement, the burners are all disposed in rear of the tractor, and in such arrangement the draft frame 42 has its two side 'memb'e'rs extending forwardly for pivotal connection at II to the frame of the tractor, such as to pivot studs projecting inwardly from gear enclosing drive housings 52 for the rear wheels, where such type of. drive is employed. If it should be desired to mount the burners in front of the tractor, such can be accomplished by extending a subframe forwardly from the tractor frame for pivotally supporting the draft frame 43, or the draft frame 43 may have its side members extending rearwardly for pivotalmounting directly on the tractor frame oron bracketssecured thereto.

Projecting diagonally upwardly and rearwardly from the'tractor frame is a Jack-frame Bl which is adapted to support the power lift mechanism that serves to swing the draft frame, skids and burners up to their inoperative positions when'traveling to or from the field, turning at the ends-of the field, or standing still; This Jack-frame 5! comprises two laterally spaced A-frames each consisting of an angle bar I! and transverse pilotbolt 'l'l. ltockably supported on the pivot bolt 8| between the brackets 59 is a lifting beam 82. The forward end of the liftin beam is pivotally connected by a pair of links 63 with the upper end of an air lift plunger rod 8|. This plunger rod carries a piston at its lower end 32-32 under most operating conditions, it may be desirable under some conditions to use atwheel or wheels instead 'of a skid. The several skids are all of substantially the same construction, and accordingly a description of one "of these skids will suflice for all. 'Each skid consists of a flat plate having its forward portion curved upwardly to a pivot eye 35' rolled in the front edge of the skid (Figure-1). Extending through this pivot eye is a pivot bolt 31 which has its ends mounted in the spaced-lower arms of a stirrup bracket 38. Theupper shank portion 38' of each stirrup bracket is adiustably clamped by two U- bolts II and 42 to a swinging draft frame 43 carried by the tractor. The U-bolts'll and 42 extend through bars I4 and 15 forming the transversea ing against the front sides of said bars. As shown in Figure 2. the bars H and 45 are formed with vertically aligned groups of holes I! for receiving the U-bolts. Thus, by shiftingthe U-bolts to difwhich reciprocates vertically within a pneumatic power lift cylinder 68 which is supported from a transverse supporting bar 81 extending between the angle bars 58. An extensible boot or bellows 68 surrounds the upper portion of the piston rod 8. and prevents the entrance of dirt into the cylinder. A compressed air conduit II extends from the upper portion of the cylinder 66 to a control valve 13 and thence to a source of com- .pressed' air, such as the reservoir lli (Figure l).

The valve I3 is arranged to beconveniently actuatable by the operator from his position on the tractor seat 26. It will be understood that when the operator opens the control valve 13, compressed air will flow through conduit II to cylinder 68 for depressing the piston in the cylinder and thereby rocking the lifting beam 62 in a clockwise direction to lift thedraft frame, skids and burners. The reservoir 15 may consist of a single compartmenttank with the fuel oil in the The draft frame It is adapted to have liftingv connection with anyone of a seriesof holes 18 providedin a bar 19 secured to the outer portion of the lifting-beam B2. The lifting connec-' tion for the draft frame 43 preferably comprises a turnbucklell having its upper end hooked into one of the holes- IO, and having an eye 83 at its v lower end through which a length of steel cable II is passed, the ends of this steel cable being suitably anchored to the draft frame ll. A cross bar 85 is secured at its center to the rear portion of the lifting beam 52 and has its ends disposed above the lateral skids 35-35. Lengths of steel cable 55 extend downwardly from the ends and centrally of the cross bar 85 to the skids II and 35-35, these cables having looped ends secured by adjusting clamps II. Adjusting the is free to rise and fall in following undulations in the ground. When it is desired to hold the lifting frame, skids and burners in their raised positions for a substantial period of time, without having to maintain air pressure in the cylinder 85, this can be readily accomplished by extending a chain!!! up from the lifting frame 43 and over the cross connecting bar 55, or through a ring carried by this bar, whereby to take the n weight of the lifting frame of! of the lifting beam Referring now to the adjustable mounting of the burners on their individual skids, it will be seen from Figures 2, 4 and 5 that a supporting standard 9| rises from the rear end of each'skid 34-4545. In this case of the two lateral skids 35-85 this standard preferably rises from the outer rear corner of each of these-skids, and in the case of a single central skid I! this standard preferably rises from the center of the skid. The location of th standard at the outer rear corner of the lateral skids enables the skid to free itself more readily of dirt flowing up over the top of the skid. The lower ends of the lifting cables 55 have attachment to lugs or like fastening devices 93 projecting from the standards. Adjustably clamped to the upper portion of each standard is a mounting clamp or bracket 54 comprising a first clamping section 85 and a second clamping section 98, The first clamping section 55 is of split formation and is adapted to be clamped about the tubular standard Si by clamping bolts 81, the arrangement being such that the bracket 94 can be adjusted vertically and rotatively in its position on the standard 9|. The other clamping section 86 is also split to form two clamping halves which are drawn together by bolts 98. These two clamping halves engage over a short section of tubular pipe 89 which carries a split clamping bracket Iill' at its forward end.

Extending down through this latter clamping bracket is a tubular burner supporting arm IIIZ. The two clamping halves of the clamping bracket I Ill are adapted to be drawn into clamping enrespect to the plant row. Itwill also be noted that the short section of pipe It or II and the clamping bracket III or HIP-III can be rotated angularly about the axis of the pipe 55 or I! within the bracket section 98, whereby the burner can be swung inwardly or outwardly or fore and aft relatively to the plant rows. Still further,- the first clamping section 95 of the adjustment mounting clamp M can be raised and lowered along. the standard 9| and can also berotated relatively to this standard so as to afford additional adjustments for'positioning the bumer or burners. Thus, it will be seen that each burner, has a mounting on its supporting skid which is completely universal in character so that the burner can be adjusted in all conceivable directions and angles relatively to the skid. I These adjustments also enable the nozzle end of each burner to be adjusted inwardly or outwardly with reference to the inner-edge of its respective skid. Thus, if there are large clods of earth in the field, the burner may be set back so that its nozzle end lies inwardly of the inner edge of the skid so that the skid protects the burner .from

the clods. The upwardly extending end of the tubular support I02 projecting upwardly from the .burner serves as a convenient handlefor shifting from in the form of a high pressure jet. Asource burners. The arrangement is such that each arm I02 can be adjusted vertically within the clamping bracket IOI'IIII', and can also be adjusted angularly within this bracket. This enables the height of the burner to be readily adjusted relatively to its supporting skid, and also the directlon in which the burner points fore and aft with of compressed air preferably in the neighborhood of 60 pounds pressure is also provided on the tractor, this compressed. air being fed to each burner and being projected therefrom in atomizing relation to the jet of fuel. The fuel can be distillate, furnace oil, or any one of a wide range of fuel oils capable of being atomized andburned in the above manner. The high pressure atomizlng type of burner is particularly advantageous in effecting flame. cultivation of plants because it enables practically any desired length and shape'of flame to be obtained, and because it also enables the intensity or temperature of the flame to be adjusted through a relatively wide range.

In the cultivation of certain plants it is advantageous to employ a relatively long flame for reaching in under the long overhanging branches or foliage of the cropplant. Extending upwardly from each burner is an air supply pipev I06 for supplying compressed air to the burner. A valve II'I serves to turn on and off the flow of compressed air to the burner, and may also be used to regulate the volume of air supplied to the burner. A hose or flexible conduit I08 extends from the upper end of the air supply pipe I05 to a connection ll! mounted on a transversely extending manifold supply pipe II I. This manifold supply pipe supplies compressed air to all of the burner units, and is fed through pipe Ill from a compressed air storage chamber, which may consist either of a separatecompressed air tank or it may consist oftheupper chamber area of the fuel storage tank 15.

Also rising from each burner unit is a fuel supply pipe III carrying a valve H1 at .its upper end which serves as a shut-off valve and which can also be used as a regulating valve for regulatingthe volume of fuel flowing to the burner oases unit. Extending the upper end of the 1 fuel supply pipe Iilis a hose or flexible conduit III whichhas connection at III with the outlet port of-ga fuel oil filter III; Another hose or flexible conduit III connects with the inlet of this filter and extends to a manifold supply pipe III. The manifold pipe'is connected in turn through pipe I with the fuel Oil tank 1. We

preferably employ an individual filter III for each burner unit and shorten-the line of connections from this filter unit to the burner unit as much as possible so' as to minimize the possibility of dirt'and other foreign matter enterther, we may employ leaf lifters for lifting the lower leaves or branchesof the plants, as disclosed in the aforementioned McLemore application Serial No. 442,206.

Whilewe have illustrated and described what: we regard to be the preferredembodiments of the invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such are merely exemplary and that various modifications and rearrangements .may be made therein .without departing from the essence of the invention.

ing the flow offuel to the burner and clogging the burner. The flexible hose connections I" and III permit the free rising and falling movement of each skid and burner in passing over uneven ground, andalso accommodates the lifting of the skid and burner to their fully raised, nonfunctioning positions. The filters III aresecured to supportlng brackets III extending down from the jack-frame 5|. Suspension cables I" depending from the jack-frame also support the pipes III and I24 an'dalso support the manifold supply pipes III and I21.

Compressed air is fed to the compressed air reservoir, or to the fuel reservoir, depending upon whether separate reservoirs are employed or whether the fueland air are both stored in the same tank, from a multiple cylinder compressor I" which is driven from the tractor engine. A suitable driving connection I transmits power from a power take-off on the tractor to the compressor. In the illustrated embodiment, we have shown the compressor as being mounted on the side of the tractor, such being a preferred point of installation-on certain makes of tractors, al-

. though it will be understood that the compressor might be positioned at the rear of the tractor as disclosed in the aforementioned McLemore application, Serial No. 442,206.

Referring to Figures 2 and vii, each burner is preferably arranged to have its entire flame orthe major portion of its flame impinge against the ground on the near side of the plant row, just a few inches short of the plants, and to then fan out over the ground to extend beyond the plant row, thereby completely enveloping each plant stem as the tractor travels along. the plant Preferably, the burners are arranged to project their flames substantially straight across the plant rows, although a slight forward inclina-' tion may also be desirable. The aforementioned McLemore application Serial No. 442,206 discloses a staggered or offset arrangement of the two burners of each pair, whereby the flame of one burner is ahead of the flame of the other so that the flames do not intersect each other but act in series on each plant, and-such arrangement may be incorporated in the present construction. A flat fan-shaped flame may also be employed if desired, as described in said latter McLemore application.

The rniddles M between beds or plant rows are mechanically cultivated by normal plowing or disking operations, but they may be flame,

cultivated in lieu of or in addition to mechanical cultivation.

We also contemplate the use of shields under some conditions, which travel alongside the plant rows in elevated positions so as to allow the flames We claim: 1. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by the flame method, the combination of a vehicle having ground engaging wheels for supporting the vehicle, a plurality of vertically swinging ground ensaging skids plvotally con-- nected to said vehicle on substantially horizontal transverse pivot axes and extending rearwardly from said pivot axes, whereby in the operation of the vehicle said skids slide along the ground in direct contact therewith and are free to rise and fail relatively to the vehicle in passing over uneven ground, a pair of burners carried by said skids upon opposite sides of an intermediate vertlcal plane which extends longitudinally of the vehicle and-which intermediate vertical plane is adapted to coincidesubstantially with the crop row in the operation of the vehicle, each of said burners being directed diagonally downwardly in a direction substantially at right angles to said intermediate vertical plane for causing its flame tostrike the ground at a point short of the line of intersection of the plane and the ground, said burners comprising means for projecting a relatively long otherwise unconfined flame which spreads along the ground and floods across the intersection of theplane and the ground for impinging directly against the weeds and the plants in the plant row, lifting mechanism operative to swing said skids and burners substantially verto act under the shields but not to strike the upper foliage of the plants. Such shields are disclosed in the aforementioned McLemore applications Serial Nos. 298,870 and 364,140.- ,Still furtically to raise'and lower said burners, a fuel tank on said vehicle, and supply connections for conducting the fuel from said tank to said burners.

2. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by-a flame method, the combination of v a wheeled vehicle adaptedto travel along a plant row, a plurality of vertically swinging ground engaging skids pivotally connected to said vehicle, a pair of burners carried by said skids upon opposite sides of, an intermediate vertical plane which extends longitudinally of the vehicle and which intermediate vertical plane'is adapted to coincide substantially with the crop row in the operation of the vehicle, each of said burners. .being directed diagonally down toward the sur- A face of the supporting ground short of the line of intersection of the plane and the ground, said burners comprising means for projecting a volume of flame which spreads along the ground and floods across the intersection of the plane and the'ground for impinging directly against the weeds and the plants in the plant row, said skids having free rising and falling movement relatively to the vehicle .and to each other in passing over uneven ground so as to accurately maintain said burners at a substantially constant height-above the ground, lifting mechanism oper- "ative to lift said skids and burners to inoperative I positions, a fuel tank on said vehicle, and supply connections for conducting the fuel from said tank to said burners. I

3. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by a flame method, the combination burners comprising means for projecting a volume of flame which spreads along the ground and floods across the intersection of the plane and the ground for impinging directly against the weeds and the plants in the plant row, said skids having free rising and falling movement relatively to the vehicle and to each other in passing over uneven ground so as to accurately maintain said burners at a substantially constant height above the ground, and lifting mechanism operative to lift said skids and burners to inoperative position.

4. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by a flame method, the combination of a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along a plant row, a plurality of vertically swinging ground engaging skids pivotally connected to said vehicle, a pair of burners carried by said skids upon opposite sides of an intermediate vertical plane which extends longitudinally of the vehicle and which intermediate vertical plane is adapted to coincide substantially with the crop row in the operation of the vehicle, each of-said burners being directeddiagonally down toward the surface of the supporting ground short of the line of intersection of the plane and the ground, said burners comprising means for projecting 2. volume of flame which spreads along the ground and floods across the intersection of the plane and the ground for impinging directly against the weeds and the plants in the plant row,-said skids having free rising and falling movement relatively to the vehicle and to each other in passing over uneven ground so as to accurately maintain said burners, at-asubstantially constant height above the ground, a fuel tank on said vehicle, and supply connections for conducting the fuel from said tank to said burners.

'5. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by a flame method, the combination of a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along a plant row, a draft frame pivotally connected with said vehicle, a plurality of mounting skids, draft pivots pivotally connecting said mounting skids with said draft frame, said mounting skids being adapted to slide along the surface of the ground on opposite sides of the plant row, burners mounted on 'said mounting skids substantially crosswise thereof and adapted to project relatively long unobstructed flames substantially crosswise of the plant row and entirely through and. beyond the plant row for direct impingement against weeds in the plant row, and lifting mechanism operative to lift said mounting skids and their burners to inoperative positions with the skids raised out of contact with the ground, said lifting mechanism also including means to lift said draftframe and draft pivots when said mounting skids are lifted.

6. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by a flame method, the combination of p a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along a plant row, a draft frame pivotally connected at its front end with said vehicle, a plurality of mounting skids extending rearwardly from said frame, draft pivots pivotally connecting the forward portions of said mounting skids with said draft frame, said mounting skids being adapted to slide along the ground on opposite sides of the plant row, burners mounted on said mounting skids substantially crosswise thereof and adapted to project relatively long unobstructed flames substantially crosswise of the plant row and entirely through and beyond the plant row for direct impingement against weeds in the plant row, and lifting mechanism operative to raise the rear end of said draft frame and said mounting skids to inoperative positions, said lifting mechanism including flexible connections to said mounting skids whereby said ,mounting skids are free to rise and fall relatively to each other and to said draft frame in sliding over uneven ground without being hindered in such rising and falling movement by the lifting mechanism.

7. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by a flame method, the combination of a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along a plant row, a plurality of mounting skids adapted to slide along the ground along opposite sides of the plant row, draft pivots pivotally connecting said mounting skids with said vehicle whereby said skids can rise and fall independently of each other and of said vehicle in passing over uneven ground, burners mounted on said skids substantially crosswise thereof and adapted to project relatively long unobstructed flames substantially crosswise of the'plant row and entirely through and beyond the plant row for direct impingement against weeds in the plant row, and power lift mechanism operative to lift said mounting skids and their burners to inoperative positions with said skids out of contact with the ground, said power lift mechanism comprising a relatively movable cylinder member and piston member, means for admitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder member, rocker means supported by said vehicle approximately above said skids, one of said power members being operatively connected to actuate said rocker means when fluid under pressure is admitted to said cylinder member, and flexible connections extending down from said rocker means to said mounting skids for raising said skids to their inoperative positions, the flexibility of said latter connections permitting said mounting skids to rise and fall independently of each other and independently of said power lift mechanism in passing over uneven ground.

8. In a cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by the flame method, the combination of a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along the rows, a free floating ground engaging skid connected with said vehicle for sliding along the ground adjacent to a plant row, a standard rising from said skid, an adjustable clamp engaging over said standard, and a burner carried by said adjustable clamp directed diagonally downwardly substantially crosswise of said skid for causing its flame to strike the ground short of the plant row and to then flood through the plant row substantially in contact with the ground, said clamp being adjustable to different vertical positions along said standard and to different angular positions about said standard for adjusting the burner relatively to the plant row.

9. In a cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by the flame method, the combination of a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along the rows, burners propelled by said vehicle adapted gaging supports and said ll to project flames across the rows, free floating mounting skids for carrying said burners, a draft frame pivotally connected with said vehicle for vertical swinging movement, and adjustable con.-

of mounting means for mounting on a wheeled said draft ar 12 and draft pivots when said mounting skids are lifted.

,13. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate r rowcrops by a flame method, the combination each other. to different positions crosswise of the.

vehicle.

10. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate row'crops by the name method, the combination of a vehicle having ground engagingwheels for supporting the vehicle, a plurality of vertically swinging ground engaging skids pivotally connected to said vehicle on substantially horizontal transverse pivot axes and extending rearwardly from said pivot axes, whereby in the operation ofthe vehicle said skids slide along the ground in direct-contact therewith and are free to raise and fall relatively to the vehicle in passing over uneven ground, burners mounted on said skids substantially crosswise thereof and adapted to project relatively long flames diagonally down- 'wardly against the ground substantially crosswise of a plant row to pass-entirely through and beyond the plant row for direct impingement against weeds in the plant row, said burners being so mounted on said skids that said skids accurately predetermine the height of the burners -'with respect to, variations of ground level adjacent the plant row but without obstructing the projection of the flames crosswiseof the plant row, and lifting mechanism operative to raise said skids and burners for turning at the ends of the rows and for traveling to and fromthe fleld. a

ing supports for said burners, a draft frame'movably mounted on said mounting means, adjustable pivotal connectionsbetween said ground endraft frame permitting free vertical swinging of each ground engaging vehicle adapted to travel along a plant row, a

draft frame pivotally connected with said mounting means, a plurality of mounting skids, draft pivots pivotall'y connecting said mounting skids withsaid draft frame, said mounting skids be-' ing adapted to slide along the surface of, the

' ground on opposite sides of the plant row, burners mounted on said mountingskids substantially crosswise thereof and adapted to project relatively long unobstructed flames substantially crosswise of the plant row and entirely through and beyond the plant row for direct impingement against weeds in the plant row, and lifting mechanism operative to lift said mounting skids'and their burners to inoperative positions with the skids raised out of contact with the ground, said vehicle adapted to travel along a plant row, a draft frameadapted to be connected pivotally at its front end with said mounting means, a pinrality of mounting skidsextending rearwardly from said frame, draft pivots pivotally connecting the forward portions of said mounting skids with said draft frame, said mounting skids being adapted to slide along the ground on opposite sides of the plant row, burners mounted on said mounting skids substantially u crosswise thereof and adapted to project relatively long unobstructed flames substantially crosswise of the piant row and entirely through and beyond the plant row'for direct impingement against weeds in the plant row, and lifting mechanism operative to raise the rear end of said draft frame and said mounting skids to inoperative positions, said lifting mechanism including flexible'connections to said mounting skids whereby said mounting skids are free to rise and fall relatively to each other and to said draft frame in sliding over uneveniground without being hindered in such rising and falling movement by the lifting mechanism. v

14. In a cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by the flame method, the combination of mounting means for mounting on a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along therows, a free floating ground engaging skid connected with said mounting'means for sliding along the ground adjacent to a. plant row, a standard rising from said skid, an adjustable clamp engaging over said standard, and a burner carried by said adjustble clamp directed diagonally downwardly substantially crosswise of said skid for causing its; flame to strike the ground short of the plant row and to then flood through the plant row substantially in contact with the ground, said clamp being adjustable to' different vertical positions along said standard and to different angular positions about said standard for adjusting the burner, relatively to the plant row.

. 15. In a cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by the flame method, the combinationof mounting means for mountingon a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along the plant rows, burners adapted to project flames across the rows, free floating mounting skids for carrying said burners, a draft framepivotally connected with said mounting means for vertical swinging movement, and adjustable connecting means for movably connecting said skids with said draft frame whereby said skids can rise and fall relatively to each other, said adjustable connecting means being shiftable to diiferent positions crosswise of said draft frame for enabling said skids to be shifted transversely relatively to each other to different positions crosswise of the intended directionof movement of said support means.

16. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate from said pivot axes, whereby in the intended movement of said mounting means said skids slide lifting mechanism also including means to lift along the ground in direct contact therewith and are free to rise and fall relatively to said mounting means in passing over uneven ground, burners mounted on said skids substantially crosswise thereof and adapted to project relatively long flames diagonally downwardly against the ground substantially'crosswlse of a plant row to pass en- 4 tirely through and beyond the plant'row for direct impingement against weeds in the plant row, said burners being so mounted on saidskids that said skids accurately predetermine the height of the burners with respect to variations of ground.

level adjacent the plant row but without obstructing the projection of the flames crosswise of the plant row, and lifting mechanism operative to raise said skids and burners'for turning at the ends of the rows'and for traveling to and fromrojecting relatively long flames. which spread along the ground and flood transversely through and beyond the plant row, said burners being mounted .on said skids so that said burners are positioned substantially in the same transverse plane with the point of sliding contact of the skid with the ground whereby the skids accurately predetermine the height of the burners with respect to variations of ground level adjacent the plant row but without obstructing the projection of the flames crosswise of the plant row, draft means for pivotally connecting the forward portions of said skids with said mounting means whereby in the intended movement thereof said skids can have free relatively to said mounting means and to each other in passing over uneven ground so as to accurately maintain said burners at a substan-v tially constant height with respect to the plants in the plant row, a fuel tank,oandsupply connections for conducting the fuel from said tank to said burners.

18. A flame cultivator implement comprising. a swingable arm having a pivot at one end and a ground a burner support fastened to said other end of: saidarmandhlvinsavsrtically enga g skid portion at its other end,

portion,

, l4 and a' substantially horizontal burner clamped to said clamp portion of carrying stem and a burner carried on said the burner support,

stem and directed transversely of said arm diagonally downwardly.

19. In apparatus of the class described for use on row crops, the combination of a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along the plant rows, burners propelled by said vehicle for projecting flames across said plant rows, groundengaging supports for said burners,sa draft frame movably mounted on said vehicle, adjustable pivotal connections between said ground engaging supports and said the ground, said burners comprising means for rising and-falling movement I draft frame permitting free vertical swinging of each ground engaging support relatively to said draft frame and also enabling said ground engaging supports to be adjusted vertically relatively to said frame; and lift mechanism for raising and lowering said ground engaging supports and said draft frame relatively to said vehicle.

20. In a flame cultivator adapted to cultivate row crops by a flame method, the combination of a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along a plant row, a pluralitypf verticallyswinging ground engaging skids pivotally connected to said vehicle, a pair ofhurners mounted on each intermediate skid and a single burner mountedon eachof the outside skids-substantially crosswise thereof and directed diagonally down toward the surface of the ground. said burners comprising means for projecting relatively long flames which spread along the ground and flood transversely through and beyond the plant row for impinging directly against weeds inthe plant row, said burners being mounted on said skids so that said burners are positioned substantially in the same transverse plane with the point of sliding contactof the skid with the ground whereby the skids accurately predetermine' the height of the burners with respect to variations of ground level adjacent the plant row but without obstructing the projection of the flames crosswise of the plant row, draft means pivotally connecting the forward portions .of said skids with said vehicle whereby in the operation of the vehicle said skids can have free rising and falling movement relatively to the vehicle andto each other in passing over uneven ground so as to accurately maintain said burners at a substantially constant height with respect to the plants in theplant' row, a iueltenk onsaid vehicle, and supply connections for conducting the fuel from said tank to said burners.

Fares CHRENLEIGH McLEMOR-E. vmmm :c I one: 

